The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-21
INTERVIEWING CHAMBERLAIN.
How the British DipIomatist Received
the Newspaper Men.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The Canadian
negotiations will begin on Monday. Minis
ter West introduced his colleagues, Mr..
Chamberlain and Sir Charles Tupper, to the
Secretary of State yesterday noon. Presi-
dent Angel and Mr.. Putnam, Secretary
Bayard's colleagues, met the British conf
missioners in the afternoon. Today they
were presented to President Cleveland.
They were received in the private library adj
Joining the cabinet room in the White House.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain and Sir Charles
Upper were introduced by Secretary Bayard
and Sir Lionel West performed the same
duty for the other members of the party.
No addresses were made and the occasion
was devoid of formality.
Commissioner and Reporters.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Chamberlain con-
sented to see a number Of newspaper men.
About twenty-five availed themselves OF the
opportunity to pay their respects to the chief
of the English Commissioners. Mr. Cham
berlain received them in his private parlor,
at the Arlington Hotel. Upon entering the
room, the newspaper men did not see Mr..
Chamberlain, but instead liberal array OF
glasses, bottles, boxes of cigars and other
UellCdCleS. MI. CAbSiSN VIZ
room after few moments Of waiting
dressed in tight fitting Prince Albert, car
rying in his eye the glass without which he
is so rarely seen. He was introduced by
Mr.. Bergne, who throughout acted as SOU
of master of ceremonies.
''rhis is Mr.. Chamberlain" Mr.. Bergne
said gracefully waving his nanQ.
The newspaper men rose, MI CnamDer-
lain bowed, and there was painful pause.
Finally Mr.. Chamberlain said:
"Can / offer you anything, gentlemen,
brandy and soda, cigars?" ana snltlng the
action to his words, he then handed around
boxes of cigars himself. The cigars having
been lighted, Mr.. Bergne once more SAID;
sGentlemen, you can ask Mr.. chamberlain
any questions you nave a mind to" or words
In response to the questions, Mr.. Cham
berlain said in substance that the British
commissioners hoped to reach permanent
settlement of all the questions at issue be-
tween the United States and Great Britaln
respecting Canada, including the Paclhc as
well as the Atlantic coast, and everything
between. 1t was not the purpose OF the
or any other treaty, but to. conclude new
convention which would make permanent
and honorable settlement. He thought the
instructions under which they were to act
were broad enOught to enable them 10 neg0-
tiate a treaty covering as much as the treaty
of 1854.
In regard to commercial union, Mr.: Cham
berlain said: 81 do not think that this COM
mission will agree to recommend CONNER
cial union between Canada and the. United
States. The Canadian representative VIII
not suggest it, 1t will not be recommended
by me or by Mr.. West. IL it is broached 1t
will be by the American representatives. ,and
if they intend to bring the tsubject up they
can inform you better than l." He did not
regard it practicable to effect commercial un-
ion. The difficulty of deciding who. should
make the tariff for the two countries, and
the danger after it was made of the shipping
across the line of the foreign goods would be
very great. As for any reports that might
have been heard, indicating that at any time
there was a feeling in England that the dis
pute with Canada could have hostile end
ing he declared that no rational or intelli-
gent Englishman would entertain the idea
for a moment that England and the United
States could seriously quarrel about this
matter.